Diaper washing apparatus



Nov. 5, 1957 MORGAN 2,811,847

DIAPER WASHING APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1955 mmvm. MARGARE r A. MORGAN Y 4 rron N: r

United States Patent Office 2,81 1,847 Patented Nov. 5, 195.7

DIAPER WASHING APPARATUS Margaret A. Morgan, Cheyenne, Wyo.

APPlicafion June 23, 1955, Serial No. 517,540

3 Claims. (Cl. 68-213) The present invention relates to washing apparatus, and more particularly, to a diaper washer.

Previously, many different types ofwashing apparatus have been provided, but in general little attention has been paid to-the washing of baby diapers or other similar objects which it is desirable to give a preliminary rinsing prior to the final washing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus designed for and useful when washing or rinsing diapers or the like in a toilet bowl or other similar receptacle. Accordingly, additional objects of the present invention areto provide apparatus for holding a diaper while the diaper is givena preliminary cleaning without the necessity of direct contact of the diaper with the operators hands. To accomplish such purpose additional means are provided for .easy introduction of the diaper into .the washing apparatus, for wringing excess liquid from the diaper and for discharging the diaper from the apparatus into a suitable receptacle.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended description and drawings in which-- Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the general detailed features of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an elevation in partial section taken along the line 22 in Fig. 1 showing additional details of the present invention, and

Fig. 3 is an elevation in enlarged section showing the features of one element of the apparatus.

Briefly stated, the present'invention provides a washer mechanism, inclusive of a pair of wringer rollers held in opposed contact position by spring tension in such manner that a diaper may be introduced and held between the rollers while the diaper is being rinsed in a toilet bowl or other receptacle. After preliminary rinsing the rollers may be rotated to wring excess liquid out of the diaper and to deliver the diaper into an upper receptacle portion of the washer. The receptacle itself is provided with an open end, so that the diaper may be dumped therefrom into a Washing machine or other convenient storage receptacle. Additional features of a preferred embodiment include a mechanism adapted to facilitate introduction of the diaper into position between the rollers and a reciprocal ratchet drive mechanism to cause rotation of the rollers.

The detailed features of a preferred embodiment of the invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it will be noted that the diaper washer 11 is provided with a main support handle 12 having a grip member 13. This handle 12 is secured as by brackets 14 to a receptacle 16 of inverted channel shape having side walls 17 formed unitarily with a top member 15. Since wringer rollers 18 and 19 are supported for rotation in opposed positions at the open end of the channel-shaped receptacle 16, it is preferable that the top or back 15 and side walls 17 of the receptacle 16 be formed of a resilient material, so that the rollers 18 and 19 will be held in contact one with the other due to the spring force exerted by the side walls 17 of the receptacle 16. While a material having resilient properties is preferable, it is obvious that the receptacle 16 may vbe made of other materials such as aluminum or the like if an auxiliary spring member 20 is provided to maintain a pressure contact between the side walls 17. It should be noted that while one end of the channel passage formed by the receptacle 161s partially occluded by the handle 12, the opposite end is open. This feature permits the easy dumping of the rinsedtdiaper from the receptacle 16 intoa place of storage.

In use it is intended that a corner or edge of a, diaper may be inserted into position between the opposed rollers 18 and 19 thereby to securely hold the diaper. With the diaper secured between the rollers the toilet may be flushed to rinse the diaper or, if preferred,-the entire diaper washer 11 itself may be moved toward and away from the water in the toilet bowl to effectively rinse the diaper. After the diaper has been thoroughly rinsed, the rollers will be rotated in opposite direction to deliver the diaper upwardly into the receptacle 16 thereby wringing excess liquid from the diaper. Additional mechanism is provided on the Washer -11 to facilitate such operations.

First, in order to make the introduction of the diaper between the rollers easier, a wedge member 21 is provided that may be forced between the rollers 18 and 19 to cause separation therebetween. A mechanism suitable for separating the rollers in this manner is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein it will be noted that the wedge 21 is connected by a push rod 22 with a hand lever 23 in such manner that grip pressure exerted against the lever 23 to move such lever inwardly toward the grip 13 will cause upward movement of the push rod 22 and the wedge 21. When the rollers are separated by the wedge 21, a diaper may be easily inserted therebetween, or if desired, the rollers themselves may be used to grip a portion of the diaper without the necessity of direct hand introduction by the operator.

Afterthe diaper has been thoroughly rinsed, it may be moved upwardly into the receptacle 16 by counter-rotation of the rollers 18 and 19, This desirable rotation of the rollers is obtained in the present embodiment of 27 of roller 19 and afiixed thereto for rotation with the roller 19. An endless ball chain 27 is threaded between the drive pulley 24 and driven pulley 26. While the chain may itself be moved simply by rotation of the drive pulley 24 or by pulling on the chain with the fingers, it has been found desirable to provide a ratchet type drive mechanism, the features of which are shown best in Figs. 1 and 3. In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the operator handle 28 is mounted for reciprocal movement along the push rod 22. This operator handle 28, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with longitudinal passages 29 and 31. Passage 29, together with push rod 22 which passes therethrough provides controlled guided movement for the operator handle 28. As the operator handle 28 is moved reciprocally along the push rod 22, the operator chain 27 will move through the passage 31; however, a check or ratchet type mechanism is provided within the operator handle 28 to allow free movement of the ball chain 27 through the passage 31 in only one direction.

The ratchet mechanism shown includes a roller pin 32, which is free to move upwardly and downwardly subject to gravitational forces in passage 33 disposed at an angle with respect to passage 31. With this arrangement, when the movement of the operator handle 28 is directed downwardly, the individual balls 34 of the ball chain 27 will tend to force the roller pin 32 upwardly into the passage 33. As soon as an upward stroke of the handle operator 28 is started the individual balls 34 will be impinged 3 against the roller pin 32 thereby wedging the roller pin 32 and the balls 34 against the sides of the passages 31 and 33 to prevent relative movement between the operator handle 28 and the ball chain 27. Further movement of the operator handle 28 along the push rod 22 will cause movement of the ball chain 27 and consequent rotation of roller 19 and roller 18. As previously explained, this rotation of the rollers 18 and 19 will both wring the excess liquid out of the diaper and deliver the diaper upwardly into the receptacle 16.

While one separate embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that this invention is adaptable to various modifications and changes. All such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the hereunto appended claims are deemed to be a part of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Material washing apparatus comprising a handle support member, a back piece and opposed side walls of resilient material forming a channel shaped structure joined to said handle support, a roller rotatably supported by one of said side walls, a compression member in juxtaposition with said roller, said roller and compression member being urged toward positions of mutual contact by the resilience of said side walls for holding materials therebetween while said materials are subjected to washing action, a wedge positioned adjacent said roller and compression member, an actuator handle on the handle support member and a linkage member interconnecting said wedge and actuator handle for moving the wedge member into position between said roller and compression member when it is desired to introduce materials therebetween, sprocket members mounted on said roller and on said handle support member, an endless chain interconnecting said sprocket members and a ratchet drive mechanism for engaging the individual links of said chain to cause movement of said chain in one direction for rotating said roller whereby the washed materials are moved past said roller and compression member to wring excess liquid therefrom and to deliver the washed materials upwardly past said rollers into the said channel structure.

2. Material washing apparatus comprising a handle support member, a back piece and downwardly disposed side walls of resilient material forming a channel shaped structure joined to said handle support, a roller rotatably supported at the free end of one of said side walls, a compression member on the other of said side walls in juxtaposition with said roller, auxiliary resilient means for urging said roller and compression member toward positions of mutual contact for holding materials therebetween while said materials are subjected to washing action, roller and compression member separating means, an actuator handle on the handle support member, a linkage member interconnecting said separating means and actuator handle whereby said separating means may be energized by movement of said actuator handle, and means for rotating said roller to move the washed materials past said roller and compression member for wringing excess liquid from said materials.

3. Material washing apparatus comprising a handle support member, a back piece and opposed side walls of resilient material forming a channel shaped structure joined to said handle support, a roller rotatably supported by one of said side walls, a compression member in juxtaposition with said roller, said roller and compression member being urged toward positions of mutual contact by the resilience of said side walls for holding materials therebetween while said materials are subjected to washing action, a wedge positioned adjacent said roller and compression member, an actuator handle on the handle support member and a linkage member interconnecting said wedge and actuator handle for moving the wedge member into position between said roller and compression member when it is desired to introduce materials therebetween, sprocket members mounted on said roller and on said handle support member, an endless chain interconnecting said sprocket members and disposed in position of alignment with said linkage member, a ratchet drive mechanism mounted reciprocally on said linkage member and having a longitudinal opening therethrough for the passage of said endless chain, and a ratchet catch member disposed within said ratchet drive mechanism for engaging the individual links of said chain to cause movement of said chain in one direction for rotating said roller whereby the washed materials are moved past said roller and compression member to wring excess liquid therefrom and to deliver the washed materials upwardly past said rollers into the said channel structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 818,498 Wiley Apr. 24, 1906 1,589,253 Smiechewicz June 15, 1926 2,223,860 Schellenberg Dec. 3, 1940 2,677,951 Haines May 11, 1954 

